Persona Poem – Helen Martins
29July 27, 2017 by petrujviljoen
Helen, Helen, why did you hide?
I, who walked obliquely
(they cut off my little toes)
was a daytime furtive
a wizened, furrowed, wrinkled wraith-
I danced my shadow selves at night naked
Helen, Helen, why did you cry?
Ugly and dirty long before
I lived even though I was pretty. The
serving and the serving. The serving made
me cry. After she and he and he and the baby died.
Helen, Helen, what did you create?
First thing I did was throw out the stove. Ha!
After that long night, the business with the
(lack of) light, the protracted shudder of grey
existence. Apprehended for the time. I. Being.
Owl.
Living the numinous night
light uniquely intended, acutely created
the social realm transcended
an enigmatic conception of
Biblical proportion
I, tiny, wiry sparrow so called.
Three hours in counted normal time it took
lighting lamps, candles. The night. The ritual.
Softening. The ridicule.
Helen, Helen, how did you live?
I lived by the spoon put by the making of the
unspawned being, nourishment incomplete
I stayed and loved and others fed. Me. When I
let them.
I lived by tremendous surge of suppressed
hunger. Amidst banal accepted routine of
them who said they will. Like me, be like us.
And I? Couldn’t.
Helen, Helen, how did you die?
I died as I lived. By my hands, shredded,
bared to crushed glass. Pierced,
punctured, consumed right through.
My ashes were in red. The owl was
unburdened.
……
Linked to Dverse Poets
About Helen Martins, South Africa’s most famous outsider artist. https://theowlhouse.co.za
I made this for the creative writing course offered at Novoed, Power of the Pen, Identity, Community and Social Issues in Poetry and Plays: https://app.novoed.com/poetry-and-plays-2017. The course has just started, into its first week, should anyone be interested in joining.
Thank you for introducing me to this inspiring artist. As you wrote, she transcended the banal, the social realm, she must have been a brave person. I love her technique of overlaying crushed glass onto the painted walls.
I’ve been to the house. She got that crushed glass everywhere! It was perilous even leaning against a doorframe, one could come away with rather severe scratches.
Passionate and heartfelt writing. She sounds like quite the woman. I’m off to learn a little more about her now. Thanks for the Owl door 😉
Enjoy the journey. I can see you lifting your hat in acknowledgment once you’ve been, even if virtually.
Ouch – a prickly, uncomfortable, powerful poem! I love the Q&A format and now I have to read up on Helen Martins.
Thank you. Helen Martins was a powerhouse – she put the small town she lived in on the global map. Enjoy the journey.
Loved the words and form! I read it without knowing who Helen Martins was, and then followed the link to learn more. Interesting stuff.
An incredible woman.
Indeed.
This is the first I’ve heard of Helen Martins. Nice description of her in your poem and the link.
I love this poem–the questions, the tone, the form… It makes me think of Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, so much so, that I read it (half singing) aloud and it was yummily creepy.
In turn will look up Shirley Jackson – thanks!
Great form.. also loved the ending.. ashes in red…
Yes, so many wonderful lines in that. Well done!
I read up on Helen at your suggestion some time back. And this poem is just astounding. Wow.
I remember giving you the link.
Sounds like she led a heavy life but kept to her own path. I need to follow your link and read up on this amazing woman. Thanks, Petru.
Very strong write. I wanted to know, wondered about Helen throughout the reading and I’m so grateful you included a link. The lives of poets and artists can give us such powerful inspiration.
Your unqiue style of writing blow me away. Very impeccable, daring, and creatively spirited.
I’m glad I read your poem wow! Truly, I am happy to read something different in ways to soak in all the imagery perspectives. 🙂
Thanks!
Welcome.
Wow! A powerful tribute to a powerfully inspired (breathed into, spirit-filled) artist. Bravo!
Thanks!
I went to the link and read. An interesting person — wildly imaginative and sad.
I had opportunity to visit the house some years ago. It’s unforgettable!
I believe it!
Powerful words and form. I’m so impressed!
Good! It was long in the making.
Your hard work clearly shows through. Congrats